AZUSA, Calif. – Senior Kyle Vanderkin had three hits, including a solo homerun, during Western Oregon's doubleheader spilt Friday at Azusa Pacific. Early offense allowed the Wolves to open with a 8-4 victory while a quality outing from Darrien Moran was tainted in a 2-1 defeat in the seven-inning nightcap at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
 
The spilt moved WOU's early season record to 2-1 while APU picked up their first win of the season in game three of the series.
 
Western Oregon scored first in game one, on a bases loaded walk offered to Vanderkin. The Cougars tied up the game with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The Wolves batted around in the second, plating five runs with three separate RBI singles – Trevor Podratz, Joey Crunkilton, Marcus Madden - and two more walks with the bases loaded.
 
WOU added two insurance runs in the fourth inning. After a one-out walk to Cody Sullivan, Vanderkin's triple to right field plated a run. Nathan Etheridge lifted a sacrifice fly to center for the eighth Wolves run.
 
Starting pitcher Garrett Alvarez allowed three runs over five innings to pick up the win (1-0). He struck out five while walking only one.
 
The Western Oregon offense was held without a hit in game two Friday until the fifth inning when Vanderkin hit a solo home run to right field. WOU managed just one more hit against a quartet of Cougar pitchers.
 
Moran went the distance striking out seven in six innings. He surrendered two runs on seven hits suffering the loss (0-1).
 
Western Oregon closes out the series against APU Saturday at noon.